Chapter 43

Jiang Manyan took half a step forward, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

One of them met his gaze first, gripped his bow and arrow tightly, and shouted hoarsely.

"Lord Jiang is right! If we hand it over to him today, it'll be our turn tomorrow!"

"We swear to defend Jincheng to the death! They're after our grain fields!"

"Yes! For the sake of the children, we'll fight!"

The one who had been whispering earlier suddenly looked up, the confusion in his eyes gradually fading.

Mr. Feng from Qingquan Town, though trembling, spoke with a resounding voice: "Having spent my whole life toiling away, I know best the methods of the powerful and wealthy. If we can't protect Jincheng, everything will be in vain! I will risk my old life to protect Jincheng!"

Several respected elders in the city stepped forward and spoke bitterly about the bloody and tearful existence under the oppression of the nobility.

In an instant, all hesitation vanished.

The strong men straightened their backs again and raised their weapons.

The women wiped away their tears and gritted their teeth to make arrows for the front lines.

Even the teenagers gripped the wooden sticks tightly, their fear fading from their eyes, replaced by unwavering resolve. The scattered hearts of the people were reunited, transforming into an iron will to protect their homeland.

Outside the crowd, atop the city wall, Qin Lingfeng's sharp gaze swept across the entire scene, taking in everyone's reactions.

His gaze lingered briefly on the faces of the first few who were shouting the loudest, and he whispered a few instructions to the servant beside him.

Then, his gaze fell tenderly and firmly back on that figure in plain clothes, listening intently as his lover used words as blades to unite mountains and rivers.

That night, several people quietly disappeared from the city, vanishing without a trace in the Jin City dungeon.

Inside the temporary command post, the atmosphere did not ease despite the unity of the people.

"Medicines and arrows are running out. The damaged parts of the city wall cannot be repaired in time."

"More importantly, the number of wounded has surged, and there is a severe shortage of medical personnel..."

...

As bad news continued to arrive, everyone's expressions grew increasingly somber.

Jiang Manyan made a decisive statement: "Brother Zhong, take stock of supplies and manpower tomorrow, and prepare for the breakout after nightfall."

He planned to use the last reserves to organize a suicide squad to launch a night raid on the relatively weak logistics forces of the Allied forces and seize supplies.

This strategy is extremely risky, as the allied forces are well-trained regular troops, while the defenders of Jincheng are mostly civilians.

But continuing this stalemate would only lead to certain death; only by taking risky measures can we seize a glimmer of hope.

"Rest assured, young master, Jiang Zhong will not hesitate to die for you!" Jiang Zhong replied in a deep voice. Long ago, at his mother's sickbed, he had already sworn to give everything for the Jiang family.

...

After everyone dispersed, only two people remained in the command post.

Jiang Manyan forced herself to study the map and calculate the supplies.

Qin Lingfeng brought over a steaming bowl of minced meat and vegetable porridge and shoved it into his hands without a word: "Eat it. If you collapse, things will really get chaotic."

In the white porcelain bowl, the thick, sticky rice porridge is glistening and translucent, garnished with tender yellow egg flowers and emerald green vegetable bits, while the aroma of stir-fried minced meat mingles with the fragrance of rice.

Jiang Manyan blew out the cool air, then scooped up a spoonful and put it in his mouth.

The warmth instantly soothed my empty stomach.

He squinted and smiled at Qin Lingfeng, a smile that made Qin Lingfeng's heart race. Even though they had been together for so long, he was still incredibly infatuated with Jiang Manyan's every move.

He liked the way Man Yan handled government affairs seriously. Despite her neat attire and solemn environment, he found Man Yan exceptionally sexy and charming.

He swallowed hard, watching his beloved finish the bowl of porridge.

Qin Lingfeng took a handkerchief and wiped away the traces on his lips. He looked at his cheeks, which were slightly flushed from the heat, and his tightly pursed lips, which were now slightly upturned.

"Ling Feng is truly virtuous."

Feeling refreshed after a hearty meal, Jiang Manyan couldn't help but tease him.

"Slow smoke, I have someone even more virtuous."

Qin Lingfeng's laughter, warm and gentle, rolled around his ear. His fingertips brushed against the tip of his ear, leaving a thin callus, yet the touch was as light as a feather.

The next moment, his lips covered hers—at first, it was a sweet, gentle caress, so soft it made one's heart tremble, but in an instant, he pried open her teeth and kissed her deeply with irresistible force. As their tongues intertwined, even their breaths became scalding hot.

Jiang Manyan felt as if all her strength had been drained away, and she could only cling to his shoulder and passively receive his weight.

The tingling sensation of lips and teeth intertwining spread from the tip of the tongue to the fingertips, leaving the mind blank. Only the instinct to tilt the head back and clumsily and eagerly return the kiss remained, as if trying to embed the warmth of this person into the bones and blood.

Their breaths grew heavier as they intertwined, their warm breaths spraying against each other's necks, their chests heaving violently, their heartbeats becoming erratic, making their eardrums buzz.

Even after Qin Lingfeng stepped back slightly, his fingertips were still pressed against his reddened lips, his voice hoarse as if it had been tempered by fire.

"Slow smoke, do not worry. Let me also become a sharp blade in your hand."

"Tomorrow, I will lead the team in a surprise attack."

...

Inside the military tent

Jiang Manyan picked up the black armor and ran her fingertips over the cold plates: "Today, I will wear it for you."

Qin Lingfeng raised his arm as instructed, feeling the weight of the metal covering his shoulder and Jiang Manyan's trembling fingertips.

He turned around and grasped her slightly cool wrist with his large hand.

"Don't panic. A beautiful woman is waiting for me. I will definitely return safely."

He chuckled softly, his handsome brows radiating confidence and arrogance.

He pulled the person into his arms, his chin gently resting on the top of their head.

"Seeing you worry about me makes me very happy. With you personally putting on my armor, you will surely protect me."

Jiang Manyan stepped back slightly, looked up into his eyes, and gripped his calloused fingers tightly: "Okay, I'll wait for you to come back."

The setting sun, like blood, spilled across the mottled city walls.

Jiang Manyan tapped the exit of the secret passage on the map with her fingertip.

At midnight, the flags were lowered and the drums fell silent. The heavily armored troops followed General Qin out through the secret passage in the northwest and launched a direct attack on the enemy's central supply depot.

"Once the remaining troops have their provisions and supplies ready, the enemy's formation will surely be thrown into chaos. Jiang Zhong will lead light cavalry out from the north gate to launch a feigned attack and distract the enemy, thus helping the heavy armored troops to retreat."

...

At the end of the secret passage, Qin Lingfeng took a deep breath and forcefully pushed aside the disguised stone slab. He did not rush out immediately, but listened intently for a moment before giving a hand gesture. The group then filed out silently like ghosts.

They moved swiftly, using the cover of night and the terrain to their advantage, and stormed straight into the Allied supply depot.

Unexpectedly smooth—the outposts along the way were sparse and the guards were lax. The huge supply camp had only a few sentries, who looked lazy and seemed completely unprepared.

Qin Lingfeng frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing through his mind, but the opportunity was fleeting.

Without further hesitation, he shouted, "Attack!"

More than ten heavily armored elite soldiers rushed towards the mountain of grain stores like tigers released from their cages. The fire starters lit up the dry grain and straw, which were instantly engulfed by flames, and thick smoke billowed into the sky!

Just as the flames soared into the sky, a sudden change occurred!

Suddenly, countless torches lit up all around, illuminating the night sky as bright as day! Heavy footsteps thundered in from all directions.

The once-empty camp was now surrounded by a dense array of enemy soldiers, armed with bows and crossbows, and wielding swords and spears! They had fallen into a trap!

This was a carefully laid trap, and the lax guards were just bait to lure them in!

"Ambush! Form a circular formation! Break out to the northwest!"

Qin Lingfeng remained calm in the face of danger, his voice steady as a mountain.

He instantly realized that the enemy's formation in the northwest corner was relatively weak and should be their only way out.

The heavily armored warriors quickly moved closer, shields facing outwards, forming a solid defensive formation, fighting and retreating simultaneously.

Qin Lingfeng took the lead, his curved blade transforming into a silver lightning bolt. Wherever the blade passed, enemy soldiers fell like wheat being harvested.

Not only was he exceptionally brave and skilled, but he was also incredibly observant and perceptive, always able to accurately deflect arrows aimed at his comrades or use concealed weapons to eliminate enemy soldiers attempting to break through their formation.

However, the enemy forces were too numerous, seemingly inexhaustible.

They were clearly prepared, advancing layer by layer with heavy shields and spears, compressing their space to maneuver, while arrows rained down like a torrential downpour.

"General! If this continues, we'll be trapped here and die!"

One of the guards parried the thrusting spear and shouted hoarsely.

Qin Lingfeng's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, quickly sweeping across the battlefield.

He noticed that the enemy's main force seemed to be drawn to their conspicuous heavy armor unit, and their defenses at the north gate were somewhat relaxed.

We can't go together!

He made a decisive decision, his voice firm and resolute.

"I'll draw the enemy's main force away. You all break up into smaller groups, remove your armor and lightly armed, and take advantage of the chaos to break through towards the north gate! Then you can rendezvous with Jiang Zhong's support troops!"

"General!"

"Execute the command!"

Qin Lingfeng roared and shoved a wounded soldier next to him toward his comrades behind him.

"Take him away!"

Before he finished speaking, he took the initiative to break away from the circular formation and, like an arrow released from a bow, charged into the densest part of the enemy army!

The blade flashed ever more fiercely, and his movements were so fast that only afterimages remained. Wherever he passed, men and horses fell, instantly drawing the attention of most of the enemy army to himself.

"Grab him! He's Qin Lingfeng!"

The enemy general shouted excitedly.

With the pressure suddenly reduced, the breakout team glanced tearfully at General Qin's proud and resolute back, gritted their teeth and carried out the order, using the cover of night and fireworks to rush towards the north gate.

Qin Lingfeng felt somewhat relieved to see that his comrades had successfully escaped the core battlefield.

He fought and retreated, leading more and more enemy troops in the opposite direction from the north gate.

His scimitar was dulled, his armor was covered with scratches and white spots from arrow impacts, and his breathing was heavy from the immense exertion.

Just as he was preparing to find an opportunity to retreat, he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye of a young soldier who had fallen behind on the flank and was being entangled by several enemy soldiers, in a perilous situation.

Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Lingfeng turned around and returned!

He was like a tiger among sheep, swatting one enemy soldier away with the back of his knife, kicking another aside, grabbing the young soldier by the back of his shirt, and forcefully pushing him to safety.

"Run!"

In that split second, in order to save his comrade, his body came to a fatal halt.

"Whoosh—Pfft!"

A powerful, armor-piercing arrow from the shadows seized the fleeting opportunity and precisely pierced through the gap in his armor at his shoulder blade!

A sharp pain instantly swept through his body, and blood spurted out!

Qin Lingfeng grunted and staggered, but his curved blade still steadily blocked the several swords that came slashing down.

His eyes flashed, and he fired the last few hidden weapons from his sleeve, forcing back the archers who were attacking and the enemy soldiers who were close at hand.

His back was bleeding profusely from the wound, and every movement caused excruciating pain, but his tall figure remained upright like a pine tree. His gaze swept over the surrounding enemy soldiers who were cowering in fear, and not a single one dared to advance easily.

He fought and retreated, leaving a bloody footprint with each step, using his personal bravery and reputation to buy his comrades the last precious time to evacuate.

Only after confirming that the breakout team had gone far away did he suddenly turn around, fight his way out, and his figure finally disappeared into the burning grain bins and the chaotic enemy ranks.

All that remained were the devastation, the terrified enemy soldiers, and the blood-soaked path winding into the distance.

After Qin Lingfeng led his team into the night, Jiang Manyan climbed the arrow tower facing the north gate.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the deep darkness, closely following the direction of that person.

Before long, flames and thick smoke rose into the sky from the direction of the Allied forces' supply camp as expected!

"It's done!"

The general beside him let out a low gasp, his voice filled with suppressed excitement.

Jiang Manyan loosened his grip on the railing slightly, but dared not relax for even a moment. He looked at Jiang Zhong beside him.

He said in a deep voice, "Brother Zhong, proceed according to plan. Make sure to help Ling Feng get back!"

"Don't worry, young master!"

Jiang Zhong clasped his hands in a fist salute, his eyes resolute. He turned around and mustered his most elite light cavalry, who, like a sharp blade, sped out from the north gate.

Jiang Zhong's attack went exceptionally smoothly at first.

His troops cut into the enemy lines like sharp knives, successfully drawing the attention of the enemy forces on the periphery.

As they expected, some of the Allied forces began to move towards the supply camp and the north gate, causing some chaos at one point.

Jiang Zhong fought bravely, always taking the lead and advancing with his men, constantly moving closer to the designated rendezvous point.

He could even see figures moving about in the distant grain and provisions camp, with firelight illuminating the fierce fighting.

He was anxious and just wanted to get closer to create an opening for General Qin and his men.

However, just as his troops ventured deep into a relatively low-lying valley that was conducive to the rapid passage of cavalry, something unexpected happened!